When a positive partner has HIV, this is what you need to do

Getting married is one of the happiest plans that every couple craves. However, what if it turns out that when all the preparations are done, you just know that your partner is HIV-positive. Should this happy plan be thwarted? Don't be sad, let's take a look at the following tips if you are in that position.

Things that need to be done when the partner is HIV positive

You must be frustrated because so much love for your partner is tested when you find out that your partner is HIV positive. Moreover, all the preparations for the wedding have been completed. But on the one hand, you can't be fooled, you also feel anxious about contracting the disease. For those of you in that position, this is what you need to do when you are married later.

Using a condom during sex

The risk of transmitting HIV when having a partner who is positively infected is very large. But don't worry, if you practice safe sex, then you will avoid this virus. Using a condom every time you have sex is one of the main conditions that must be met.

When used properly, condoms can effectively reduce the risk of HIV transmission. For women, condoms prevent transmission by 73 percent while for men reduce transmission by 63 percent.

Using lubricants during sex

Condoms alone are not enough to protect you from the risk of contracting HIV. The reason is, the condom can tear when used. Therefore, you should use a lubricant to reduce the friction pressure on the condom.

Use a water-based lubricant, as it doesn't erode the latex in the condom. That way, condoms are still safe to use and avoid damage.

Routinely undergoing treatment

Do not give up hope, even though HIV is an incurable disease but treatment helps manage your condition. Invite your partner to do routine treatment from now on.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is able to make the HIV virus in the blood and body fluids lower. Quoted from Everyday Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that people who keep their HIV levels low have almost no chance of infecting their partners.

To minimize the risk of infection, as a potential partner you can also take a drug called PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). This drug is a drug to prevent the transmission of infection for people who are at high risk of contracting HIV. In addition, you should start taking this drug 72 hours before sexual intercourse.

In addition, make regular visits to the doctor every three months to check on both you and your partner's condition. With routine and proper care, people with HIV have a life expectancy that is much higher than you previously thought.

Even if your partner has HIV, you can still have children

If what you are afraid of when your HIV-positive partner is having children, then there's no need to worry. The reason is, you and your partner can still have children without transmitting to your child or partner who is HIV negative.

After getting married later, you and your partner can consult your doctor about this. Usually, the doctor will run a series of programs to help you have children. Your doctor will determine when is the right time for you and your partner to have sex without a condom.

Of course this will be done after the doctor checks the level of the virus in your body. In addition, the doctor will also provide medicine for both of you to reduce the risk of infection before and after conception.

You can also do other ways to have children without fear of catching them like doing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and artificial insemination

There are many people who have successfully had children without needing to transmit HIV to their partners or children. Therefore, don't be pessimistic and discouraged, you can be one of them.

The importance of having an HIV test before marriage

For this reason, it is very important to have an HIV test before deciding to get married. This is not done to thwart your wedding plans. However, to find out whether either of you is infected with HIV or not.

If there is, then the doctor will provide the right treatment so that HIV-negative partners do not become infected. By knowing the presence of this virus in your body, the spread of the virus can be prevented.

What you need to be afraid of is not "what if I have HIV". Precisely what you need to be afraid of is if you or your partner has HIV but it is not detected and it ends up transmitting it to your spouse and children later.